Johnny's feelings for Kate became increasingly complicated when she was secretly replaced by Whitney Frost in a cloned body of Kate Bishop, who subsequently took their relationship to a physical level during a night out at the Mad House Danceclub on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood.[8] Hawkeye eventually confronted Madame Masque in the Hollywood Hills, with their ensuing fight in Griffith Park forcing Kate to reveal to her friends Derek Bishop's connection to Mikka's kidnapping. These events also forced Kate to admit she'd been harboring feelings for Johnny as well.[9]

Some time later, Clint Barton arrived in Venice and caused damage to merchandise in Ramone's Surf Shop, while on the run from Eden Vale, who blamed him for her daughter's death during Hydra's attack on Las Vegas.[10] After Kate was kidnapped by Eden, Johnny and the rest of Hawkeye Investigations helped Clint track down Kate's location to rescue her,[11] much to Johnny's relief.[12] During the subsequent battle between both Hawkeyes and the combined forces of Madame Masque and marksmen whom Eden Vale had summoned from the past to help her seek revenge, Johnny saved Kate's life by shielding her from falling concrete, thus revealing that he had been secretly harboring superpowers all along.[13]